Stay mounting means for head coverings



July 23, 1957 .1. DE GRAZIA 2,799,863

STAY MOUNTING MEANS FOR HEAD QOVERINGS Filed July 20, 1955 2 Sheecs--Sheetl 1 INVENTOR osqciz Gra/iw ATTORNEY July 23, 1957 J. DE GRAZIA 2,799,863

STAY MOUNTING MEANS FOR HEAD covERINGs Filed July 20, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Jepz 61125121.

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United Statesatent STAY MOUNTING MEANSlFR HEAD- CVERNGS Joseph De' Grazia, Washington, D. C.

Application July zo, 195s, serial No. 523,14#

21 Claims. (Cl. 2.-195) (Grantedunder Title 35, U. S. ACode (1952), sec. 266) Theu invention described herein, if patented, may be manufacturedy and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the'payment to me of any' royalty thereon.

MyV invention relates to head coverings and more' particularly to lightweight coverings which' are intended to be worn inwarm weather and which include stays to space the crown of the' covering from the head ofthe wearer. A typical head covering of this general typeis disclosed in the patent to Oberrender, No. 2,701,366, dated February 8, 1955. Here, as in most devices of this type, the stays are permanently secured in place' andV cannot readily be removed for replacement. Also, although thestays normally will outwear the headcovering' material they are doomed to destruction whenever the head covering wears out; Likewise, if the wearer has several replacement headcoverings for wear while one is being laundered, each must have its own stays. Hence, it is clear that it is highly desirable to provide readily removable stays and the simplest manner of so doing is' to provide' stay pockets which arel open at the upper e'n'd as in thev points'of lightweight shirt collars. However, if suchrpockets' are formed'in the side piece of a head c'overing and extend the entire height thereof, there is realV diiculty in applying and'removing'the stays without distorting or even damaging the head covering, the Stays, the pockets, or all three. lf the pockets are of less height than the side piece soas to permit substantial portions to project outwardly thereof they are too readily removabie and' tend to fall outv accidentally;

With the foregoing, in View, it is an object of'rn'y i11- vention to provide an improved head covering ofthe class described.

A further Objectis to provide improved stay pocketproviding means for such a' head covering.

A furtherobject is to provide an improved stay pocketpr'oviding means which is secured to the headY covering for staying use in an upside down position but which is movable to an up'right'positio'n to give access to the stays.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the invention, the lstructure and design of the several elements thereof, combinations and sub-combination of said elements with each other and with a head covering-all of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the attached drawing in connection with the following specilication wherein the invention is shown, described and claimed.

In the drawing: Y

Figure lv is a perspective view taken from above of an embodiment of the invention, parts being broken away;

Figure 2 is a view like Figure l but taken from below;

Figure 3 is a diametrical vertical sectional View taken longitudinally of the head covering;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 4-'4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional 2,799,863 Patented Judy" 23, 1957 view taken substantially on the plane of the line 5-5 ofFigure 3;

Fig. 6 is arview like Figure 2 but showing a modication of the invention, the parts being shown in the operative position;

Figure 7 is a view like Figure 6 but showing the parts in the access-giving position;

Figures 8 and 9 are fragmentary vertical sectional views taken respectively substantially on the planes of the lines 8 8 andV 9-9'of Figures 6 and 7; andv Figure l0 is a fragmentary perspective view of afurther modication.

Referring specically to the drawing wherein like reference'characters designate like parts in all-views and referringat rst to theform of invention of. FiguresV 1-5, 10 designates generally any suitable head covering. As illustrated, the head covering is a cap butit. is understood that the invention is applicable to other forms ofhead coverings.

Cap 10' includes a crown piece 11, a side piece 12 providing/a side wall of substantially cylindrical form depending therefrom and a visor 13, all of conventional construction. The lower edge of the side wall 12 has secured thereto a ap 14 which is substantially coextensive therewith. The flap 14 extends upwardly along the inner surface 15 of the side wall 12 to the crownfpiece 11"'. The outer surface 16 of the Hap 14 facesthe inner surface '15 ofthe side wall 12 and has circumferentially spaced strips 17 secured thereto along the topl and sides by any suitable means such as the lines of stitching 18 to provide inverted pockets 19. The strips 17 extend downwardly from the upper edge 21 of the ap 14and terminate withv lower edges 23 which are in at least slightly upwardly spaced relation to the. hinge-providing means 20 which connects the flap 14 tothe sidewall 12. In the form illustrated, a line of stitching comprises the hinge-providingmeans 20. Any suitable'stifening stays 2`2`- are readily removably carried in the pockets 19.

In' operation, with the ap 14 in its normal stiifening position of Figure l, the lower ends of the-stays 22 bear against the seam or other hinge-providing means- 20 while the'upp'er ends. hold the bottoms of the pockets 19 and upper edge of the ap 14 against the crown piece 11. Thus, the side wall 12 is sufficiently stiffened to maintain the crown piece 11 spaced from the top of the wearers head. Clearly, in this position the stays 22 are not .only out of contact with the wearers head but cannot be accidentally dislodged from the pockets 19. By unfolding the flap 14 to the depending position of Figure 2, access is provided to the pockets 19 and the stays 22 may be readily removed.

In the form of invention of Figures 6-9 inclusive, the cap or other head Icovering is generally indicatedV at 30 and comprises a crown piece 31, side wall 32 and visor 33, which correspond to like structure inthe rst described form of the invention.

However, instead of the flap 14 there has been provided a sweatband 34 which normally extends a short distance upwardly along the inner surface 35 of the sidewall` 32. Suitable hinge-providing means such as the stitching 29y secures the lower edge of the sweatband 34 tothe side wall 32. A plurality of narrow strip-like extensions 36 of the sweatband 34 extend upwardly of the upper edge 37 thereof to the crown piece 31 along the innersurface 35 of the side wall 32. Means 38V provide pockets on the outer surfaces 39 of the extensions 36 between the latter and the side wall'32. In the embodiment illustrated, the pocket-providing means 38 comprise downwardly directed upper ends of the extensions 36. Obviously, they could be separate pieces of material. Laterally spaced securing means such as the stitching 39a connect the side edges oi' each means 38 and its extension 36 together to provide an inverted pocket. As in the iirst formY of the invention, the pocket-providing means 3 3 havelowerredges #itl which are at leastslightly spaced from the hinge-providing means 29. Preferably, in this form of the invention, the pockets 3S are'relatively shallow and the lower edges 4d thereof are disposed near the crown piece 31 so as to be'above and out of contact with the head of the wearer. Y Stays 41am freely `slidable in the pockets 38 and normally extend from the hinge providing means 29 to the crown piece 3i to stiften the side wall 32 as in thevtirst formv of the invention.

The operation of this form of the invention isV the same as in the first described form. However, this form eliminates the Vdouble thickness required by the ap 14 and results in a lighter and cooler cap.

In the modification of Figure l0, both theflap 14 and sweatband 34 have been eliminated. Here the cap 5t) includes a crown piece 51 and a side wall 52. A plurality of stripsV 53, only one of which is shown, extend vertically of the side wall 52 along the inner-surface54 thereof in circumferentially spaced relation.V The lower end of each strip 53 is hingedly secured to 'theside wall 52 by any suitable hinge-providing means such as the line of stitching 55. Each strip 53 is coextensive in length with the height Vof the side wall 52 Vso that the upper "ends 56 of the strips abut the crown piece 51. Asuit-l ableV pocket-providing means such Vas the patch 57 is secured in any suitable manner as by the U-shaped line of stitching 58,' to the outer surface of each strip 53 to provide an inverted pocket for a stay 59. TheV operation of` this form of the invention is thesame as in the rst described forms. By eliminating both the ap and the sweatband, a: still cooler and lighterhead covering is provided without the sacriiice of strength or appearanceV of the cap.

Itis obvious from the foregoing that in any form of Vthe inventionrthe stays are secured in position against accidental Vdisplacement yet are readily removable and replaceable when the need arises without the use of separate fasteners or stitching. Likewise, it is apparent that the lightest cap material may be used and still be maintained in a proper shape.

In each of the forms fully illustrated, three stays have been used with one at each side of the cap in the regions` of the ends of the visor and with'the third located centrally ofthe back of the cap. Obviously, ythe exact number and location of the stays is not critical and the use of more or less stays at diierent locations is contemplated.

Moreover, while Ihave shown and described what arev now thought to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the same is susceptible of other forms and expressions. Consequently, it ispnot my intention to limit the invention .to the precise structures shown and described hereinabove except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:V

' 1. In a head covering including a crown piece and a substantially cylindrical side wall outer section disposed concentrically thereof and depending therefrom; the im- Y provement comprising a substantially cylindrical side wall Vinnensection,V said sections having substantially alignedlower edges, hinge means hingedly connecting said lower `edges together, a circumferential series of spaced and substantially vertical pockets secured to one of said sections between said sections, said pockets having open and downwardly opening mouths, stiffening stays for said side wall sections readily removably seated in said pockets, said stays having lower ends, said inner section normally being in an operative position underlying said outer section and-wherein said lower ends of said stays bear on said hinge means to retain said stays in said pockets, and

said inner section being swingable on said hinge means` away from said outer section to an access-providing position wherein said lower ends of said stays are free of said hinge means to permit the removal of said stays from said pockets.

2. A head covering according to claim l, wherein said pockets are secured to` said side wall inner section.

3. A head covering according to claim l, wherein said pockets each include a closed upper end in the region of said crown piece, and said mouths of said pockets being located above said connecting means a substantial distance to allow a substantial portion of each stay to project out of its pocket.

4. In a head covering including a crown piece and a substantially cylindrical side wall disposed concentrically thereof andV depending therefrom, said side wall having a lower edge; the improvement comprising means providing a circumferential series of spaced and substantially vertical pockets, said pockets including wall-providing means substantially coextensive in height with said side wall and providing an inner wall for each of said pockets, said wall-providing means having upper and lower portions, hinge-providing means hingedly connecting said lower portions of said wall-providing means to said lower edge of said side wall for swinging movement from operative positions along said sidewall inwardly thereof away from said side wall to positions providing access to said pockets, said pockets including outer pocket wallproviding means having laterally spaced side edges se- Y cured to said rst named wall-providingmeans in the regions of said upper portions thereof, said outer pocket wall-providing means having free lower edges located above said lower edge of said side wall to provide open and downwardly opening mouths for said pockets when the latter are in said operative positions, a stitfening stay in each pocket, each stay having an upper end supporting said crown piece and a lower end bearing on said` hinge-providing means when said pockets are in said operative positions, and said stays being free of said hingeproviding means and readily removable from said pockets when the latter are in said positions providing access to said pockets.

5. In a head covering including a crown piece and a substantially cylindrical side wall disposed concentrically thereof and depending therefrom, saidjwall having a lower edge; the improvement comprising means providing a circumferential series of spaced and substantially vertical Y pockets, said pockets having open mouths, said pockets normally being in inverted positions so that saidV open mouths are downwardly directed, hinge-means hingedly connecting said pockets to said side wall in the region of said lower edge thereof, said pockets when in said inverted positionsvhaving closed upper ends disposed in` the region of said crown piece, stiening stays having upper ends seated in said upper ends of said pockets and having lower ends bearing on said hinge means to retain said stays in said pockets when the latter are'in said inverted positions, andy said pockets being swingableon said hinge means out of said inverted positions to positions providing access thereto and wherein said lower ends of said stays are free ofisaid hinge means to permit the removal of said stays from said pockets.

6. A head covering according to claim 5, there being a vertically swingable ap hinged to said lower edge of` said side wall to provide said hinge means, said iiap having an inner surface, and said pocketsY being formed on said inner` surface betweenthe same and said side Wall inside the latter. Y Y

7. In a head covering including a crown piece and a substantially cylindrical side wall disposed concentrically thereof and depending therefrom; the improvement comprising a plurality of strips, said strips having operative e positions wherein they extend substantially vertically along said side wall inwardly thereof in circumferentially spaced relation, said side wall andsaid stripshaving lower lower edges together, means providing substantially vertical pockets xed to said strips between the same and said side wall, said pockets having downwardly opening mouths when said strips are in said operative positions, stifrening stays slidably seated in said pockets, said strips and pockets being swingable on said hinge-providing means from said operative positions wherein said stays bear simultaneously on said crown piece and on said hingeproviding means to support said crown piece and retain said stays in said pockets to access-providing positions away from said side wall and wherein said stays are free of said hinge-providing means to permit removal of said stays from said pockets.

8. In a head covering including a crown piece and a substantially cylindrical side wall disposed concentrically thereof and depending therefrom; the improvement comprising a sweatband having a free upper edge and a lower edge, hinge-providing means hingedly securing said lower edge of said sweatband to said side wall concentrically of the latter, relatively narrow extensions of said free upper edge of said sweatband extending upwardly along said side wall inwardly thereof to said orown piece, means providing inverted pockets iiXed to said extensions between the latter and said s-ide wall, said pockets being substantially vertical, said pockets having downwardly opening open mouths, stiiening stays each having a length coextensive with the height of said side wall, there being a stay slidable in each pocket, and said stays having lower ends normally bearing on said hinge-providing means to retain said stays in said pockets.

9. A head covering according to claim 8, wherein said means providing said pockets comprise downwardly directed upper ends of said extensions, and laterally spaced means securing said downwardly directed upper ends to said extensions to form said pockets.

10. In a head covering including a exible side wall; means mounting at least one stilening stay on said side wall inwardly thereof, said means comprising a pocket mounting means having a lower portion, hinge-providing means hingedly connecting said lower portion to said side wall for swinging movement from an upwardly extending stiffening position along said side wall inside said head covering to an access-providing position extending from said side wall at an angle, a substantially vertical stay pocket xed to said pocket mounting means, said pocket being between said pocket mounting means and said side wall and having a downwardly opening open mouth in vertically spaced relation to said hinge-providing means when said pocket mounting means is in said stiffening position,

a stiiening stay slidably seated in said pocket and having a lower end bearing on said hinge providing means when said pocket mounting means is in said stiiening position, and said lower end of said stay being free of said hinge providing means to permit withdrawal of said stay from said pocket when said pocket mounting means is in said access-providing position.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein said side wall has an upper edge, said pocket having a bottom substantially co-planar with said upper edge when said pocket mounting means is in said stiiening position, and said stay having a length coextensive with the distance between said bottom of said pocket and said hinge-providing means. y

12. A device according to claim 10, wherein said pocket has a bottom, and said stay has a length coextensive with the distance between said bottom and said hingeproviding means.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein said head covering includes a crown piece attached to said side wall, and wherein said bottom of said pocket abuts said crown piece when said pocket mounting means is in said stiftening position.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein said pocket mounting means comprises a body of exible sheet material, and said hinge-providing means comprises a line of stitching securing said pocket mounting means to said side wall.

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein said side wall and said pocket mounting means include substantially coplanar lower edges, and said line of stitching being located to connect said lower edges together.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein said pocket mounting means comprises an annular member disposed concentrically of said side wall.

17. A device according to claim 10, wherein said pocket mounting means comprises a strip-like iiexible member.

18. A device according to claim l0, wherein said pocket mounting means comprises an annular flap disposed concentrically of said side wall and coextensive in height with said side wall.

19. A device according to claim 10, wherein said pocket mounting means includes a sweatband, a flexible strip extending upwardly of said sweatband, and said pocket being located on said strip.

20. In a head covering including a crown and an endless side wall depending therefrom -concentrically thereof; the improvement comprising at least one substantially vertical inverted pocket extending downwardly from said crown along said side wall inwardly of the latter, said pocket having a downwardly opening open mouth, holding means on said side wall in downwardly spaced relation to said mouth of said pocket, a stiifening stay having an upper end slidably seated in said pocket, and said stay having a lower end readily detachably engaged by said holding means.

21. A head covering according to claim 20, there being a flexible member extending along said side wall inwardly thereof, hinge means hingedly connecting said flexible member to said side wall, and said hinge means and flexible member compris-ing said holding means.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 705,068 Gordon July 22, 1902 1,081,333 Reese Dec. 16, 1913 2,301,047 Hendley Nov. 3, 1942 2,307,713 Sullivan Jan. 5, 1943 2,343,155 Paul Feb. 29, 1944 2,701,366 Oberrender Feb. 8, 1955 

